Saudi king scathing of ‘rotten’ Pakistan president: US leaks

WASHINGTON: The Saudi king considers President Asif Ali Zardari the greatest obstacle to progress in Pakistan, according to scathing comments reported by the New York Times in leaked US diplomatic cables.

“When the head is rotten it affects the whole body,” King Abdullah was quoted as saying.

Zardari is deeply unpopular at home. Tainted by corruption allegations and nicknamed “Mr 10 Percent,” he spent 11 years in jail on charges ranging from corruption to murder, but has never been convicted.

The Pakistani government immediately dismissed the reported insult from one of Pakistan’s closest allies.

Zardari considers King Abdullah “his elder brother”, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar told AFP from Colombo where the Pakistani leader is paying an official visit.

“The so-called leaks are no more than an attempt to create misperceptions

President orders probe into Haj mismanagement

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari today directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate reports of poor accommodation arrangements made for Haj pilgrims in Mecca by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the President, taking note of the reports of huge mismanagement in hiring accommodation and the complaints of non-provision of basic facilities to pilgrims, has asked the FIA to submit its report without any delay.

He said that a number of Haj pilgrims had sent their complaints direct from Mecca to the Presidency.

In another development, the President also called for a report from the Ministry of Minorities Affairs over the sentencing to death of a Christian woman for alleged blasphemy in Nankana Sahib last Monday, he said.

Aasia Bibi, a resident of Nankana Sahib

Troika agree to implement all court orders

The troika comprising President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani held a key meeting at the Presidency.
Sources said that the troika vowed to defend democracy and implement the decisions of the Supreme Court in letter and spirit.
Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that it was decided in the meeting to resolve all the issues in accordance with the Constitution. He said the meeting reviewed ongoing war against terrorism, and rehabilitation and rebuilding process after devastating floods.

Nation won’t tolerate any ultra-constitutional change: Kaira

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Thursday said that the network of terrorist organizations has been smashed in the country adding that we have to join hands to fight collectively against such elements.

Talking to media persons here at the Parliament House, he said that it is not a time to indulge in blame game but is a time to create unity among our rank and file and to fight the mindset which wants to destabilize the country. “The Punjab government should not be blamed for Lahore tragedy. No one is safe from them and the terrorists attack whenever they find any opportunity,” he observed.

The minister said the government operation against the terrorists in Swat, Malakand and tribal areas remained successful and the whole network of terrorist organizations has been broken. The whole nation including security forces, media and the civil society played key role in eradicating the menace of terrorism from Swat and Malakand division, he said.

The security forces remained successful in the operation against the terrorists in Malakand division and it was the results of consensus which was built against such elements, he added. The Minister said that some splinter elements belonging to smashed terrorists groups are acting in desperation but the government would not allow them to play with lives of innocent people.

Replying to a question, Kaira said that it was not made public that how many people were arrested in connection with terrorism on the basis of intelligence. “Wherever we deem necessary, we will take action and we need no dictation from any quarter,” he added.

In response to another question, he said that democracy has been restored after long struggle and the nation would not tolerate any ultra-constitutional change in the system.

The National Assembly session was convened to discuss relief and rehabilitation of flood victims but it has been adjourned for one day owing to the death of Minister for Local Government AbdulRazzaq Thahim and now the matter would be discussed on Friday.

No efforts to be spared for victims rehabilitation: Nawaz

MUZAFFARBAD: Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif Thursday said no efforts will be spared for the service and rehabilitation of the flood-stricken people.

Addressing the flood affectees in Baseera area of Muzaffargarh, Nawaz Sharif paid tributes to the people hit by the unprecedented floods for their resilience and courage.

“There can be no compensation for loss of life but those who suffered monetary losses will be given at least Rs100,000 each,” he promised.

Later, talking to media, the PML-N Chief said rehabilitation of the flood victims is a colossal task and will take time, as even the assessment of the losses remains to be carried out.

Referring to the yesterday’s deadly bombings in Lahore, he said problems of Pakistan are being compounded. Some elements want to see Pakistan unstable, he added.

President calls meetings over victims rehabilitation, targeted killings

ISLAMABAD: Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar Thursday said President Asif Ali Zardari has convened two important meetings in connection with the rehabilitation and putting a curb on targeted killings in Karachi.

He said this while talking to media men after attending the funeral prayers on federal minister Abdul Razzaq Thaheem.

Farhatullah Babar said the President has issued directives to Sindh Home Minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza in regard to maintenance of law and order besides putting a check on targeted killings in Karachi.

In order for rehabilitation of the victims, Babar said, settlements like Benazirabad will be established.

He refrained from commenting on the statement of MQM Chief Altaf Hussain.

The presidential spokesman said each flood affected family will be given Rs20,000 and the first installment of Rs5,000 will be disbursed before Eid-ul-Fitr.

Man hurled shoes towards President Zardari: Eyewitness

BIRMINGHAM: A man threw two shoes towards President Asif Ali Zardari when the latter was delivering a speech at Pakistan People’s Party’s convention here on Saturday, an eyewitness said.

However, the shoes failed to reach the stage, sources said.

President Zardari was addressing a gathering of PPP workers at a convention here when a man – apparently a PPP worker – stood up and threw something in direction of the President as he (the man) criticized the latter for the UK trip, the sources said.

An eyewitness who was present at the convention said ‘the man threw two shoes one after another towards the President when he was giving speech.’ Security personnel present there sprung to action and took the man into custody and took him outside, the eyewitness added.

This led the President to stop his address and immediately leave the place in a security cordon in his car waiting for him outside.

However, Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar rubbished the above report, saying there is no substance in it as he was himself present at the convention and no such incident took place during the President’s speech.

“I was sitting in the front row and I can confidently say that nobody threw anything,” Farhatullah Babar said while talking to Geo News.

On the other hand, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira confirming the incident said that ‘highlighting a wrong act of a person would not be a right thing to do’ and added that the incident will be investigated.

President Zardari is presently in UK on a trip which was widely criticized due to his leaving the country at a time when people in Pakistan are facing unprecedented floods that has killed over 1000 people and displaced millions.

No substance in shoe hurling report: Presidential spokesman

BIRMINGHAM: Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar Saturday rubbished the report a man throwing shoes at President Asif Ali Zardari when the latter was addressing the PPP workers here at the party convention.

Talking to Geo News Farhatullah Babar said there is no substance in the report as he was himself present at the convention and no such incident took place during the President’s speech.

“I was sitting in the front row and I can confidently say that nobody threw anything,” the Presidential Spokesman said.

President orders probe into Raza’s killing

PARIS: President Asif Ali Zardari, expressing profound grief over assassination of MQM’s MNA Raza Haider, has issued orders to probe into heinous crime, Geo News reported.

President spokesman Farhatullah Babar talking to Geo News correspondent Khalid Hameed Farooqi here said President Zardari has issued probe into killing of Raza Haider.

Poverty-ridden family laid to rest

LAHORE: The poor family, which consumed poisonous pills having been sick of poverty, has been buried in an environment of utter despair and grave grief here on late Wednesday.

The spouse of Mohammed Akbar and one of his daughters survived while another two daughters and he himself could not stay alive longer after they attempted suicide.

It may be mentioned, a family of six on Wednesday morning consumed poisonous pills in a suicide attempt in Shahpur Kanjra on Wednesday, in order to escape poverty.

Forty-year-old Muhammad Akbar Shah and two of his daughters died after consuming the poison. His wife, Aiman, his 12-year-old daughter Khadija and his son survived the suicide attempt.

Akbar, a rickshaw driver, had been living with his family and his brother, Amjad Shah, in a two-room house in Shahpur Kanjra village for the past two years.

Amjad told the police that Akbar was constantly stressed about his financial situation as he was the family’s sole breadwinner. Amjad said his brothers daily earnings had been decreasing daily, and the family lived on the brink of poverty.

According to Amjad, Akbar fought with his family on Wednesday about financial issues and fled his home, only to return a while later with some pills.

He dissolved the pills in water and gave the mixture to his family, consuming some himself.

The family was taken to hospital soon after they consumed the poison, where doctors managed to save Akbar’s wife and daughter.

Muhammad Aslam, Akbar’s father, said he had no idea that his son would take such an extreme step to escape destitution.

On the other hand, Afzal Khokhar, a PML-N MNA from the area, told media that there was probably some other reason behind the suicide.

He said that no one had committed suicide because of hunger, adding that due to his tight schedule on Wednesday he had not visited the family.

Talking to media, philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi said he saw similar cases very frequently.

“Every now and then we get women outside our homes, asking us to take in their children because they cannot afford rent or food,” he said. “There is only one reason for this: poverty.”

Edhi blamed tax-evasion and lavish spending for the huge disparity between the rich and the poor, adding that government institutions were not pushed to alleviate poverty either.

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